Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) Belsazar HWV 61
Excerpts [solos,mix ch,orch] Duration: 170'
solos: SMezATTBB – choir: SSATTB – 0.2.0.1. – 0.2.0.0. – timp – str – bc
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Duration: full evening
Text by Charles Jennens
Translation: German (E. Schmidt) (English text only in the score)
Characters: Belsazar, Babylonian King (tenor) - Nitocris, his Mother (soprano) - Cyrus, Persian King (alto) - Gobrias, Babylonian Prince, defects to the Persians (bass) - Daniel, Prophet, Leader of the captive Jews in Babylon (alto) - Messenger (bass) - 3 Babylonian Wise Men (2 Tenöre, bass) - Three Jews (soprano, alto, tenor)
Nitocris, a disciple of the Jewish prophet Daniel, whose people are kept captive in Babylon, fears the fall of Babylon since the Persian King Cyrus is laying siege to the city with his army. Gobryas flees the city in the hope of finding a better future and defects to the Persians. Cyrus decides to bring the city under his control by redirecting the course of the river Euphrates. Meanwhile, as Belshazzar is wildly celebrating the Passover festival, words appear on the wall: Menetekel upharsin. Upon reading the writing on the wall, Belshazzar falls unconscious to the ground. Since the scholars who are summoned for help are unable to decrypt the message, they call upon Daniel, who has predicted the imminent fall of the Babylonian empire. And indeed, the Persians break into the city and kill Belshazzar. Cyrus proves to be magnanimous, however, and spares the Jewish people. He also professes allegiance to Jehovah and promises the Jews that he will reconstruct their Temple in Jerusalem.
Text by Charles Jennens
Translation: German (E. Schmidt) (English text only in the score)
Characters: Belsazar, Babylonian King (tenor) - Nitocris, his Mother (soprano) - Cyrus, Persian King (alto) - Gobrias, Babylonian Prince, defects to the Persians (bass) - Daniel, Prophet, Leader of the captive Jews in Babylon (alto) - Messenger (bass) - 3 Babylonian Wise Men (2 Tenöre, bass) - Three Jews (soprano, alto, tenor)
Nitocris, a disciple of the Jewish prophet Daniel, whose people are kept captive in Babylon, fears the fall of Babylon since the Persian King Cyrus is laying siege to the city with his army. Gobryas flees the city in the hope of finding a better future and defects to the Persians. Cyrus decides to bring the city under his control by redirecting the course of the river Euphrates. Meanwhile, as Belshazzar is wildly celebrating the Passover festival, words appear on the wall: Menetekel upharsin. Upon reading the writing on the wall, Belshazzar falls unconscious to the ground. Since the scholars who are summoned for help are unable to decrypt the message, they call upon Daniel, who has predicted the imminent fall of the Babylonian empire. And indeed, the Persians break into the city and kill Belshazzar. Cyrus proves to be magnanimous, however, and spares the Jewish people. He also professes allegiance to Jehovah and promises the Jews that he will reconstruct their Temple in Jerusalem.